National Key Database

For a long time there has been worry and speculation about the number of databases which hold the keys of people's avatars in Second Life. I hereby propose the formation of the National Key Database, to avoid any such fears.

* Nobody's key enters the database without registration. Everyone can register their key with the database. No key gets in the database from any source but the owner

* Any person can remove their key at any time by using a simple STOP command, which is available for use 24/7

* The National Key Database is not a service. It is simply a database of keys. Being in the key database does not mean you are a member of various schemes etc.

* The National Key Database allows read access to keys for approved partners only. The database will not be unaudited.

* Each keyholder will be allowed to view a log of all activity for their key i.e. who has requested it and when

* Each partner of the database must allow the revocation of keys from their records at any time by the customer, to obtain approval to the database

* All audit logs are available to key holders and the Lindens for the purpose of law enforcement / management of risks

Feedback anyone?

How would you stop others from getting your key? And why would you want to stop them from getting your key?

Can't stop others from getting my key. I'm probably on a half dozen bootleg databases right now. At least in the National Database, I can get myself out of the database at the touch of a button, and if I'm in it it's because I put myself there, and if I'm in it, there's a full audit log of who requests my data, and the only people who can request my data are strong, preapproved quality organisations.

what would be the incentive for an end user to register themselves to the opt in scheme? and what would be the incentive for a creator who needed to utilize such a database to use this one, given that it will probably be less complete than those already in existence?

I would think any responsible creator would, when using a set of keys from any source, make it their duty not to fall foul of spamming rules and not to upset customers?

Anyone can get and use their key if they want to try hard enough.. There isn't much they can do when they have your key.. I can see an upside to it, they can send you moneys

Leave it the way it is, people shouldn't stress about keys..

If a seller wishes to not upset customers, they should demonstrate to them they use ethical databases, not bootlegged data stolen while they were building a house somewhere.

True, at first the database might be less complete than illegal ones. And true, it might founder if it fails to gain support.

However, it is the first attempt to make an ethical database which leaves the subject in control of their own data, and it could be used in conjunction with another database at first, which at least lets a supplier say they tried to use an ethical data source.

Incentive for customers to opt in? Suppliers could ask them to just as they do now when making purchases. Except rather than have 20,000 databases in SL, there could be one database, where the manager of it worries about data access and proper opt in/out problems, rather than 20,000 website managers all worrying about problems with their own databases.

For anyone wishing to opt in or out, there is a permanent opt in and opt out machine at Zoe (20,41,40).

A key can't be stolen, its public domain..

Now, why again, should we limit people being able to get our keys?

This isn't about limiting, it's about saying, put your key here, and you can see who is grabbing it.

If more people use a controlled database, and more sellers use a controlled database, there will be less huge illegal databases out there. I'm sure if you give someone unreputable enough lindens, they might slip you most or all of a database, then you can make a new free account and spam them to death.

So uncontrolled, unregistered big databases are a liability of sorts. But people can't do anything else, there is no big, controlled, safe database.

This is an effort to make one.

There exists an open name-to-key database at my website here. It supports an opt-out list for those who wish to be omitted.

~Ulrika~

I disagree. There is no reason to care where the key came from if you're being responsible and have permission to use it.

There exists an open name-to-key database at my website here. It supports an opt-out list for those who wish to be omitted.

~Ulrika~

I see that. But I want to draw a line under database practices where you can drift into a database. You have to opt into this database. Probably all of the people in your database are there without their consent.

That's an opinion point, and it will be defined by the methods of collection and use the people ultimately choose.

So in the interests of choice, I present a fully honest database for people to choose.

Given that my opt-out list is about ten people after a year, my guess your opt-in database will grow at a similar rate. Of what use will this be to anyone?

~Ulrika~

The current databases aren't illegal, as far as I know.

I don't think anyone has a problem with someone trying to make a new database of keys, I'm just synical of how much use it will get next to the fuller databases..

My point remains. Your database does not have a list of people who have chosen to be in your database. Mine will. Every name in my database will have chosen to be there, and chosen to remain there.

If people decide they don't want to back an ethical database, so be it. Now they have choice, however.

The Lindens have officially stated that they will allow them, including mine which uses code to decrypt keys from an on-disk cache.

~Ulrika~

If there was an opt in phonebook, next to your regular phone book, which would you use?

Cool! I'll be sure to grab it and add it to mine.

~Ulrika~

But that's the point, keys *are* public domain. Frankly, Ulrika doesn't *have* to allow opt-out. She's just nice to the people who are worried about spam (very unlikely that it will happen, or for very long without a banning) or are slightly more paranoid than the average player.

I have never heard it put so perfectly!

Nobody has to do anything. This new database features opt in and opt out, and is more ethical than any of the others doing the rounds. People now have a choice.

Why thank you

I really don't appreciate you claiming it is unethical of me, or any less ethical than anyone else, to use another database. It is not. Keys are used in many many ways in SL. Storing or having a way to quickly retrieve these keys is becoming more necessary by the day.

No problem